Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

On Wednesday a natural wet loose cycle occurred on steep solar terrain as temperatures warmed and the strong sun came into play.

A few size 1 to 2 wind slab avalanches were observed around White Pass on Monday, along with significant wind transport. Small dry loose avalanches were also seen around Haines Pass.

Wind has redistributed 20 to 30 cm of recent snow, likely forming a mix of soft and hard wind slabs in open terrain while leaving some soft snow in sheltered areas.

A buried surface hoar or crust layer, 40 to 60 cm deep, is variable in distribution and has produced some test results but no recent avalanches. Similarly, a December crust with facets, 100 to 150 cm deep on all aspects up to 1750 m, has shown no recent activity or significant test results.

Snow depth ranges from 100 cm at highway elevations to over 300 cm in the alpine.

Thursday Night

Mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 50 km/h northeast wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 30 to 40 km/h northeast wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Saturday

Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy 1 to 2 cm of snow. 40 to 50 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Avoid sun-exposed slopes, especially if the snow surface is moist or wet.
• Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.